The ULA Extremely Circuit SV (48L) is an ultralight-style roll-top backpack made utilizing an ultralight waterproof cloth known as Extremely that’s considerably extra abrasion-resistant than Dyneema DCF or the Robic Nylon utilized in different ultralight backpacks. The ULA Circuit SV (Small Quantity) reviewed here’s a decrease quantity model of the favored ULA Circuit (68L) backpack for hikers who don’t want to hold as a lot gear, water, or meals. The one distinction between the smaller ULA Extremely Circuit SV (48L) and the bigger ULA Extremely Circuit (68L) is the amount of the principle compartment.
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- Weight: 35.8 oz (dimension medium)
- Quantity: 48 Liters, together with the extension collar and exterior pockets
- Cloth: Extremely 200 and Extremely 400 in high-wear areas
- Mfg. Rec’d Max Load: 35 lbs
- Mfg. Rec’s Base Weight: 15 lbs
- Torso Lengths: 15-18″, 18-21″, 21-24″, 24″+
- Hip Belt Sizing: 26-30″, 30-34″, 34-38″, 38-40″, 42-47″, 47″+
- Seam-taped: No
- Hydration system compatibility: No
- Load lifters: Sure
- Bear canister compatibility: BV500 matches vertically, BV475 matches horizontally within the extension collar, BV450 and BV425 match horizontally in the principle compartment.
- Made within the USA
- Execs: Ultralight, waterproof cloth, glorious hipbelt, big selection of sizes, female and male fashions
- Cons: Not seam taped or seam-sealed, prime Y-strap interferes with load lifters
ULA determined to create a smaller 48L quantity model of the unique 68L Circuit Backpack as a result of backpacking gear has turn out to be noticeably extra compressible and lighter weight prior to now 5 years and there may be much less demand for high-volume backpacks like the unique 68L Circuit.
The Circuit SV is accessible in 400D Robic Nylon or Extremely 200 and Ultra400. All of those supplies are extremely sturdy, though the Extremely Cloth is considerably extra abrasion-resistant than Robic Nylon and waterproof.
Backpack Storage and Group
The ULA Extremely Circuit SV is laid out like a normal ultralight backpack with a entrance mesh pocket, facet water bottle pockets made with strong cloth, and a single tier of facet compression straps. It’s a roll-top pack (with none prime snaps, a stiffener, or velcro on the prime of the extension collar) that may be secured to the edges of the pack with straps and buckles or clipped collectively on prime. If the latter, the additional facet straps might be looped across the backpack to offer entrance compression or act as an attachment level to lash gear over the entrance mesh pocket. This may be helpful for carrying snowshoes since they gained’t match beneath the facet compression straps.
The facet water bottle pockets are straightforward to succeed in whereas sporting the backpack, and you will get bottles out and in of the pockets. There’s an elastic twine with a twine lock alongside the highest of the pocket to safe tall skinny bottles, and whereas a 32 oz Nalgene bottle matches, the pockets aren’t deep sufficient to retailer it reliably: you’re higher off utilizing a taller skinny bottle. The pack’s shoulder straps run by means of holes in entrance of facet pockets and are anchored inside. Whereas this helps pull the pack nearer to your hips, small objects can fall out if positioned contained in the facet pockets.
The entrance mesh pocket, made with extremely sturdy UltraStretch Mesh, is superb for storing moist or free layers you need quick access to with out having to open up the roll prime. The pack comes with an elastic twine that lays over the mesh and is nice for attaching moist gear to the backpack’s outdoors, though I want to take away it so it doesn’t snag on protruding vegetation.
There are two zippered pockets on the outside of the hip belt, massive sufficient to retailer a point-and-shoot digicam, snacks, bug dope, and such. The fronts of each pockets are hard-faced and have heavy-duty waterproof zippers. Hipbelt pockets are a spot that usually experiences excessive abrasion in the event you hike off-trail and the place the Extremely cloth shines.
The within of the pack bag is one huge area with none hydration ports or a spot to hold a hydration system, though there are two gear loops inside from which to hold a hydration pocket or a smaller accent pocket (offered individually). Whereas all the pack can maintain 48L, the principle pack bag, together with the extension collar, solely has a quantity of 37L of storage whereas the rest is distributed within the open and hipbelt pockets.
The within of the pack bag can also be NOT seam-taped or seam-sealed, despite the fact that that is doable, and different pack producers who use Extremely and Dyneema DCF accomplish that. ULA says they don’t seam-tape as a result of it will intrude with making pack repairs. I don’t perceive why that might make a distinction.
Regardless, I nonetheless suggest utilizing a pack liner, even on packs which might be seam-taped and made with waterproof cloth, as a result of a liner has extra makes use of past preserving the within of your pack dry. (See: Do You want a Pack Liner for a Waterproof Backpack?)
The Extremely Circuit SV has two body parts: a Delrin (fiberglass) hoop that runs across the perimeter of the again panel and a central aluminum body keep. The ring doesn’t present a structural perform when it comes to load switch to the hip: its main objective is to forestall the pack from collapsing on itself if you pack it. The body keep does the actual load switch work and helps forestall the pack bag from barrelling when the pack is full. It’s pre-curved and helps drive the load into your lumbar area. Each the Delrin loop and the central body keep parts aren’t meant to be detachable.
Backpack Body and Suspension
By way of load distribution, it’s greatest to put your heaviest objects, resembling meals, nearer to the middle of your again or simply above the hip belt. Weight positioned larger up on this pack, with its single body keep, tends to sway and might throw you off steadiness.
The again of the pack is made with skinny foam coated with mesh cloth that retains your torso comfy even on scorching and humid days. It’s not ventilated like a suspended mesh pack, so that you’ll nonetheless sweat, but it surely’s additionally not easy like a again panel made with nylon. It will possibly, nevertheless, decide up forest particles, like pine or spruce needles, in the event you lay it down on the bottom.
Like ULA’s different backpacks, the Extremely Circuit SV is accessible with conventional male (J-shaped) or female-friendly and unisex (S-shaped) shoulder straps, though many males want these S-shaped straps as nicely. I requested them on this pack to indicate you what they appear like (above). The S-shape is appropriate for individuals with sloping shoulders or well-developed chests and may help make the sternum strap (which slides up and down on a webbing strap) extra comfy. ULA packs are highly regarded with ladies backpackers for that reason.
The hipbelt is equally spectacular, if no more so. It has prime and backside webbing straps, so you may alter the strain to match the curves of your hips whereas preserving the simplicity of a central buckle. I believe the ULA Circuit SV backpack has the most effective hipbelt accessible at this time amongst ultralight pack makers on this weight class when it comes to match, consolation, and cargo switch. It rides securely and comfortably over your iliac crest and gained’t slip even you probably have a closely loaded pack.
The hipbelt can also be replaceable and accessible in a formidable vary of sizes, so you may dial in a great match even in the event you’re on the ultra-slim or the outsized finish of the spectrum. It attaches to the pack with an enormous block of velcro behind the padded again panel. That velcro block is taller than it needs to be by about 2″, so if you should, you may increase the hello belt up and shorten the torso size or vice versa. In different phrases, you get the comfort of an adjustable torso size with out incurring the added weight and complexity that having one normally requires. This diploma of adjustability has all the time been a function of ULA’s bigger backpacks that has set them other than different fastened torso-length packs.
Exterior Attachment Factors/Compression
The Extremely Circuit SV has one tier of facet compression straps situated above both sides pocket. Along with serving to compress puffy gear saved contained in the pack, they may also be used to safe lengthy skinny objects to the facet of the pack, like Tenkara fishing rods or a trekking umbrella. They’ve restricted utility for winter climbing and backpacking; nevertheless, since they shut with webbing strap adjusters, which freeze up in winter, and never side-release buckles.
Like all ULA backpacks, the Extremely Circuit SV’s shoulder straps have plastic rings to hold gear like GPS receivers or a Garmin Inreach mini 2. The sternum strap slides up and down a chunk of webbing sewn to the entrance of the shoulder straps and is straightforward to regulate.
The Circuit SV comes with a single prime strap that runs from above the shoulders to a buckle within the entrance of the pack to carry down the rolltop and any objects you may need to keep on prime of the pack. A Y-strap is accessible as nicely, however I like to recommend in opposition to utilizing it. The slack webbing within the Y-strap may be very lengthy and hangs down over your shoulders, not down the entrance of the pack, out of the best way. That is ungainly and interferes with utilizing the load lifters. It’s a really curious design, and I like to recommend rolling your individual slightly than utilizing the ULA Y strap except they modify it.
There are extra gear loops on the base of the pack the place you might additionally safe a tent and further gear loops across the entrance mesh pocket. Once more, the straps for these are offered individually. Lastly, the Extremely Circuit SV features a pair of elastic trekking pole/ice axe shaft holders on the prime of the entrance mesh pocket. These are free.
Comparable Ultralight Framed Backpacks
Suggestion
The ULA Extremely Circuit SV Backpack is a 48L model of the favored ULA Extremely 68L Circuit Backpack and is designed for 3-5 day journeys that don’t require carrying massive quantities of drugs, meals, and water. Whereas the 2 packs are nearly an identical (aside from the amount of the principle compartment), I want the 48L model as a result of it’s nimbler and extra comfy to hold than a higher-capacity backpack. (It’d be good if ULA would come with the width and peak dimensions of each packs on the merchandise’ net retailer pages so you might examine them.)
The Extremely Circuit SV is made with Extremely 200 and Extremely 400, a pack materials that’s extra abrasion-resistant than Dyneema DCF or the 400D Robic Nylon used within the Robic Circuit or Robic Circuit SV backpacks, additionally offered by ULA. If you happen to hike in mountainous terrain or off-trail, I’d suggest getting the Extremely model of the Circuit SV for the added abrasion resistance.
If you happen to’re contemplating buying a ULA Circuit SV, the issues that set it other than different producers’ backpacks are sizing and match. If you happen to require particular sizing in peak or girth or need S-shaped shoulder straps, the Circuit or any of ULA’s different higher-volume packs are onerous to beat.
Disclosure: ULA donated a backpack for assessment.
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